Our lives today can be seriously fast-paced. A hyperconnected world with a constant flux of information is enough to make some of us feel stressed and anxious. David Goggins mental aid station isn’t a widely known concept, but it’s been garnering some questions since being mentioned on the Joe Rogan Podcast.
Read on to have a peek into who David Goggins is, and what his idea of a mental aid station is. What could we learn to practice in our day-to-day lives from the mental aid station concept?
Who is David Goggins?
David Goggins is well known for his philosophy on mastering the mind. His content is all over social media promoting discipline and hard work which inspires others to achieve their goals. David Goggins is a retired Navy Seal, competed in over 70 ultra-distance races, and has held a world record for performing 4030 pull-ups in just 17 hours.
David Goggins has accumulated a serious array of achievements over the years, including being a best-selling author for his book Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds. He is proudly the only member of the U.S. Armed Forces to complete SEAL training, Army Ranger school, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller training.
What is a David Goggins mental aid station?
David Goggins has talked about the concept of a mental aid station, which he uses as a way to reset and consciously rest. In between all the hard grind and busy activities of the day, will be dedicated mental aid stations. The sole focus of these mental aid stations is to silence the mind and focus on nothing but the activity you are undertaking at that moment.
These mental aid stations can be practiced during routine activities throughout your day, where you may usually be focusing on something else. For instance, taking a shower, or eating a meal and only focusing on being in the moment and nothing else.
These dedicated periods throughout the day allow David to become even more effective where it matters. His body and mind are well-rested through these practices instead of being under constant stress like most people. This is vital when it comes to performing at a high level.
Example mental aid station activities:
- Shower
- Driving
- Eating
- Going for a walk
- Working out
- Cooking
What can we learn from mental aid station practice?
So, what can we learn from the David Goggins mental aid station concept?
Mindfulness
By giving ourselves the opportunity to consciously relax and silence the mind throughout the day, we are allowing the mind and body to recover back to a place where we are more effective.
Constant multitasking may seem effective to some, but it’s not sustainable and we need regular periods of rest if we are to perform at our most optimal level.
A good mental aid station practice forces us to be in the present, and forget about everything else. To focus purely on the activity in front of us and not whatever the mind wants to throw at us. Being in the present moment takes our mind away from the past or future where anxiety generally exists. Not to mention, some of our most fruitful ideas can come to light when our mind is quiet.
Gratitude
The David Goggins mental aid station practice can also increase our level of gratitude for the simple things in life, enjoying the simple act of a delicious meal or realising how lucky you are to be taking a shower in a safe home. A strong positive mindset can only be a good thing for your life.
The mental aid station approach can be a great alternative to simple meditations, although this could be considered a type of active meditation. Instilling this practice into our daily routine is a sure way to increase our self-awareness, reduce stress, and increase our mental resilience.
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